EVACUATION CONSIDERATIONS

Evacuations of hospitals and other healthcare facilities can be lengthy and complex events. A 1990 study examined the evacuation of 34 hospitals and 46 nursing homes (Vogt 1990). In the 34 hospital evacuations at facilities that ranged from 99 to 310 beds, the largest facility took 5 hours to evacuate 127 patients, whereas the smallest hospital took 2 hours to evacuate 27 patients. The most rapid evacuation involved the movement of 57 patients in 1.5 hours (Vogt 1990). In addition to results of nursing home evacuations, it was found that the time to evacuate was not related to the number of patients evacuating. The strongest predictors of evacuation time were the nature of the threat (weather versus nonweather events), the ratio of staff to patients, and whether the facility was in an urban area (Vogt 1991). A more recent study documents the evacuation of 575 patients from a hospital prior to a hurricane (Cocanour et al. 2002). In this case, completing the evacuation took almost 28 hours. Of the 575 patients, 169 were discharged and 406 were taken to 29 other facilities.

Both Vogt (1990) and McGlown (2001) examine factors influencing the evacuation process in healthcare facilities. Although Vogt focuses on the implementation of an evacuation at an organizational level whereas McGlown focuses on individual decision making, the two studies have similar findings. Processes are shaped by factors such as threat, risk, time, resources, infrastructure impediments, internal and external environment, organizational characteristics, social linkages, and social climate.

In terrorist events, both patients and workers in healthcare facilities are vulnerable groups. Patients are at risk because they lack the ability to protect themselves. Workers are at risk because of the nature of their roles as caregivers and because of the extra burden that an emergency creates. Despite such difficulties, responding to an emergency can be successful with careful planning, training, and exercising.


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